AP File PhotoTBS' lead play-by-play man Chip Caray (right) has received his fair share of criticism from media critics, despite the network's ratings increase for its coverage of 13 division series games.If you watched the one-game playoff between Detroit and Minnesota, the bitter taste in your mouth might not have been from the Tigers’ heartbreaking extra-innings loss.

New York Times media critic Richard Sandomir said the sour taste could have resulted from TBS lead announcer Chip Caray’s botched play-calling.

Despite TBS' 11 percent increase in ratings from last year, reviews for Caray this postseason have been harsh -- including negative criticism from Sandomir and Phil Mushnick of the New York Post.

CUTOFF MAN POLL

You may recall Caray’s error-packed play-by-play call in the 10th inning of the Tigers’ tiebreaker when he called Nick Punto's line drive to left field.

“Line drive. Base hit. Caught out there. The runner tags. Throw to the plate. On target. And in time! A double play."

Atlanta Journal Constitution: Caray also said Tigers catcher Gerald Laird had the American League’s best success rate throwing out basestealers – that title belongs to and that Yankees catcher Jorge Posada had allowed eight passed balls when it was nine, prompting Sandomir to wonder if Caray was getting bad information or conducting "rogue research."

According to ratings released Monday, TBS appears to be doing something right.

The Yankees-Twins division series marked TBS’ most-viewed division series since the cable network acquired postseason coverage and its most-viewed week in the network’s 33-year history. TBS also averaged a 3.6 cable rating and 4.769 million views for its coverage of 13 division series games -- a nine percent and 11 percent increase from last year.

However, TBS’ success poses the question: Do good ratings correlate to good broadcasting?

The 7-2 win by the Tigers over the Minnesota Twins was the highest rated telecast on Fox Sports Detroit in the 12 seasons Fox Sports Detroit has aired Tigers games. Their record-breaking telecast, which drew a 15.6 rating, came one day after the Tigers’ second game of a day-night doubleheader set a previous record of 13.6.

Tigers play-by-play announcer Mario Impemba and color commentator Rod Allen might have a bulky fan following, but maybe people are simply interested in watching baseball in the fall.

Sandomir has been critical of Caray -- who is in his third season as TBS’ No. 1 national baseball announcer -- in seasons past. Sandomir said Caray had an “annoying air of certitude” and broadcasts games with “errors and silly strategy, enough to give me agita” during his 2007 postseason broadcasts.

Here are some questions to ponder through the rest of Caray’s work this postseason. Why isn’t he better prepared? If his producer, Jeff Gowen, is listening to what he is saying, why isn’t Caray improving? And why should I have to keep rushing to MLB.com to fact-check his facts?

Caray, who calls Braves games on Peachtree TV, will call the Phillies-Dodgers National League Championship Series starting tonight.

What do you think? Are you a fan of the Caray, Ron Darling and Buck Martinez broadcasting crew? Maybe, Joe Buck, Tim McCarver, Ken Rosenthal and Chris Myers, who are doing the ALCS telecast are your cup of tea.

You might also prefer broadcaster Dave O'Brien and Cy Young award winner Rick Sutcliffe, who will
call the action for this year's ALCS and World Series for MLB
International.

But if radio is your thing, I suggest Dan Shulman and Dave Campbell, who will call the Phillies-Dodgers series or Jon Miller and Hall of Famer Joe Morgan, who will call the ALCS.